What is a midterm election?

A midterm election is a federal election held in the middle of a President's four-year term, in the even-numbered year between presidential elections. Midterm elections include all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, about one-third of the 100 U.S. Senate seats, 36 of the 50 governorships (in most cycles), and many state legislative and local offices. Midterm elections do not include the offices of President or Vice President. Recent midterm elections include 2022, 2018, 2014, 2010, and 2006. The next midterm election is in November 2026.

Midterm elections typically have lower voter turnout than presidential elections. Turnout in recent midterms has ranged from about 40 to 50 percent of eligible voters, compared with 60 to 67 percent in presidential elections. Lower turnout means the electorate in midterms is often older, whiter, and more politically engaged on average than in presidential years.

Midterm elections often serve as a referendum on the sitting President and the President's party. The President's party has lost seats in the House in nearly every midterm election since the Civil War. Major exceptions include 1934 (Roosevelt's first midterm during the Great Depression), 1998 (Clinton's second midterm during the impeachment process), and 2002 (Bush's first midterm shortly after the September 11 attacks). The 2018 midterm saw Democrats gain 41 House seats during Trump's first term. The 2022 midterm produced unusually muted losses for Biden's Democrats compared with most first-term midterms.

Midterm elections can dramatically reshape Washington, particularly through changes in House and Senate control. The 2010 midterm shifted the House from Democratic to Republican control during Obama's first term, blocking much of his legislative agenda for the rest of his time in office. The 2018 midterm shifted the House from Republican to Democratic control during Trump's first term, leading to high-profile investigations and his first impeachment. The 2022 midterm shifted the House to Republican control during Biden's term, leading to extensive oversight of his administration.

State and local races on the midterm ballot often draw significant attention. Most governors and state legislators are elected in midterm years. Ballot initiatives on issues such as abortion rights, marijuana legalization, and minimum wage increases also frequently appear on midterm ballots. The 2022 and 2024 election cycles saw several state ballot measures protecting abortion rights, drawing significant voter attention.